Ectopic expression of WsMBP1 from Withania somnifera in transgenic tobacco shows insecticidal activity against teak defoliator Hyblaea puera (Lepidoptera: Hyblaeidae)

An insecticidal mannose binding lectin gene of Withania somnifera, WsMBP1 was constitutively expressed in tobacco plants. Instar-wise study on the response of Hyblaea puera larvae to the total protein extracted from transgenic tobacco was conducted and survivability percent was 33.33% and 55.55% in the first and the second instars, respectively. Minimum survivability of 22.22% was registered in the third instar. Further, two-fold reduction was observed in mean pre-pupal and pupal weight in the third instar larval populations fed with lectin protein compared to the control populations. The functional confirmation of the insecticidal activity of WsMBP1 established its potential as a novel gene resource for future transformation studies in developing teak genotypes tolerant to its leaf defoliator, H. puera.